Non-Western Art Critique

Kyle D. Joson

Professor Bomboy

Modern Culture and Arts

October 4, 2015

Non-Western Art Critique

         Eastern art is quite different and remarkable compared to Western art because of the perspective and values. One of the Non-Western paintings I found interesting is the Two Eagles, made by Zhu Da (his literary name was Bada Shanren). Zhu Da was a Chinese artist known for his collection of paintings of landscapes and creatures using monochrome ink. He was also a Buddhist monk since 1648 but later left after the collapse of the Ming dynasty and the death of his father. He became insane, but his creativity was everlasting. Zhu Da did not fit with any other ordinary Chinese painters because he had a bizarre personality and was egoistic (Britannica). The Two Eagles was made in China, dating back to 1702, when Da was seventy-six years old. It is an image of two eagles hanging on a tree; the bottom-right side eagle is looking at the left side intensely, and the other one on the top-left is either looking at the sky or the tree branches (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). What makes this ancient Chinese painting special to many viewers?
         The art elements and the principle of design is an important aspect of how to read art and understanding artist's purpose. Da used only two colors to make this beautiful imagery: black and grey ink on a paper scroll. Though the colors are dull and plain, they give contrast and value. The black color is applied only to the eagles' faces, necks, and certain parts of the wings. There are lines mixing short strokes, curves, straights, thicks, and thins to make organic shapes to project nature. When I look at the eagles' feathers and the environment, the texture looks and feel rough. I can tell Zhu Da used the rule of thirds to make the viewers' eyes more easily glance smoothly between the two birds. The rule of thirds helps the rhythm flow from the top-left eagle to the tree to the bottom-right eagle. Space tries to make an even feeling, but the balance is asymmetrical. When I first glanced at the painting, I was focused on the tree branch at the top of the painting. The tree branch is an emphasis that tells you to focus on the top eagle later. There is a difference between the two birds in proportion. The top eagle seems bigger than the one at the bottom, making the viewers feel the top eagle is dominant. Overall, the elements and principle design Zhu Da used feel complete, embracing nature and conveying the value of Chinese art (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Historians noted that Two Eagles is very similar to Lin Liang's painting of the hawks and eagles. Liang's mighty birds symbolize strength and courage, but Da's Two Eagles is the expression of a brave confrontation and unfaltering loyalty. The depiction of Two Eagles is about the noble birds standing on the landscape because of foreign conquerors (the Qing Dynasty). It tells us Zhu Da was a loyalist to the Ming Dynasty, and this painting is propaganda against the Qing (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). According to ancient Chinese history, the Ming lost its Mandate of Heaven due to natural disasters, famine, and economic problems. The Mandate of Heaven serves as a political idea that the Heaven chooses the emperor who is fit for his people, and if the emperor fails, then a new one will be picked (Wu). Ever wonder why Zhu Da always painted the simplicity of nature? Nature has been part of China's culture throughout many centuries. Chinese paintings are part of an important philosophy called Daoism. Daoism focuses on lives, understanding total simplicity, and being in harmony with nature. The Dao De Jing (The Way and its Power) shows "a series of simple images to illustrate the complementary and harmonies function of positive and negative elements in ordinary things, as in nature" (Fiero 72). Achieving enlightenment reflects on the natural world.

Looking at Two Eagles made me feel intrigued by the simplicity of nature and realism. Da's style made me embrace the beauty of landscapes and animal lives. I think Da was critical of if he was going to add a background to make the painting more realistic, but that might have ruined the value of Daoism. One thing I had a hard time seeing was the bottom eagle's feet touching the tree. It makes me uncomfortable seeing the eagle and environment have the same grey color, making them blend. I was shocked by Zhu Da’s message of Two Eagles: it was meant to be a political view on the Qing empire.

  Zhu Da was an interesting Non-Western artist because the mindset and style he had. I am always fascinated by Chinese paintings portraying their philosophy. Maybe if Zhu Da did not become a Buddhist monk, then his paintings might be non-peaceful and complexity of style.

Works Cited

Da, Zhu. Two Eagles. 1702. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY. In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Web. 1 Oct. 2015. <https:// www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/L.1997.30>.

“India, China and America.” The Humanistic Tradition. Ed. Gloria K. Fiero. 7th ed. Vol. I. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015. 72. Print.

Wu, Annie. "The Qing Dynasty." China Highlights. China Highlights, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/china-history/the-qing-dynasty.htm>.

"Zhu Da." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/biography/Zhu-Da>.